There I was, settling into my seat on a crowded plane, when the unmistakable sound of a crying baby filled the cabin. A few rows ahead, I saw a young mother with her tiny newborn.  She was juggling the baby, a diaper bag and a carry-on piece of luggage.  Her face was a mixture of exhaustion and apology as she tried everything to soothe her baby.  As “luck” would have it, the ticket she booked was the seat right next to mine. 

She finally managed to get situated in her seat and buckled her seatbelt.   When the cries from her newborn didn’t stop, I caught her eye and smiled. Gently, I asked, “Would you like me to hold your baby for a minute? Sometimes a new set of arms can help.” She hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, her relief was visually noticeable.

As she handed her baby to me, I took a deep breath. I didn’t rush to fix or bounce or shush. Instead, I focused on calming myself, knowing how much babies absorb the energy around them. Slowly, steadily, my own breathing became a gentle rhythm, and as I softened, so did the baby.

The little one settled in my arms, her cries tapering off into soft whimpers and then peaceful silence. The mother watched, her face shifting from disbelief to amazement. “How did you do that?” she whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and exhaustion.

I smiled and said, “It’s not magic—it’s just breathing. When we calm ourselves, it helps babies feel safe and calm too. They’re so in tune with us.”

She let out a long sigh, and I handed her baby back, now snoozing peacefully. It was a small moment, but it opened the door to something bigger.  She opened up about how hard the past few months had been. “I love my baby so much,” she said, her voice breaking, “but I’m just... so tired. And sometimes I feel like I’m doing it all wrong.”

I nodded, my heart going out to her. “That’s completely normal,” I said gently. “Parenting is the most beautiful and challenging thing, all at once. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.”

Her eyes welled up with tears—not because of what I said, but because someone had validated what she was feeling. And isn’t that what we all need sometimes? Someone to say, I see you. You’re not alone.

As the conversation unfolded, we talked about the importance of support—not just for the baby, but for her. I shared a few ideas for finding it, whether it’s through family, friends, or even online communities of moms who are in the same season of life. I reminded her that self-care doesn’t have to be grand. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a 10-minute shower or sitting with a cup of tea while the baby naps.

She was full of curiosity about how she could be “the best mom” to her baby.  We chatted about all things parenting the duration of the flight.  At one point, she looked at me and asked “how do you know all this stuff”.  I smiled a huge smile and said, “well full disclosure, I am a Parent Coach!”  She lightly laughed and said, “what are the odds I would get seated next to you?”   As we were getting ready to land, I watched her rocking her baby with a little more ease.  I thought about how important it is to remind parents—especially new ones—that it’s okay to ask for help and find resources that resonate with how you wish to parent.

As we wrapped up our conversation, she said something that meant a lot to me. “I’ve learned more from you on this three-hour flight than from every book I’ve read, or any other advice people have given me.”

That moment reminded me of something so true: sometimes, it just takes a personal touch to make things sink in. Parenting isn’t just about reading the right advice or mastering a technique—it’s about connection, trust, and knowing that we’re all in this together.

So, if you’re reading this and you’re in that season of newborn chaos, here’s what I want you to know:

1. You’re not alone. There are countless parents out there feeling exactly what you’re feeling.
2. It’s okay to be tired. You’re doing the hardest and most important job in the world.
3. Support is out there. It might be a trusted friend, a parenting group, or even a stranger on a plane, but you don’t have to go it alone.
4. You are enough. Even on the days when it doesn’t feel like it, you are showing up, and that matters more than you know.

To the mom on that plane: thank you for trusting me with your story. And to every parent reading this: take a moment to breathe, reach out for connection, and remember—you’re doing amazing.